Druk PNB Bank explained

Druk PNB Bank
Type:Public sector Undertaking
Founded:2008
Hq Location City:Thimpu
Hq Location Country:Bhutan
Num Locations:38
Area Served:Bhutan
Parent:Royal Government of Bhutan and Punjab National Bank
Website:www.drukpnbbank.bt

Druk PNB Bank is a bank established through collaboration between the Royal Government of Bhutan and Punjab National Bank of India.

History

Druk PNB, incorporated in 2008 under Bhutan's Companies Act, operates as a commercial bank licensed by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan under the 1992 Financial Institutions Act. It is also listed on the Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan.[1]

As of December 31, 2014, the bank's paid-up capital amounted to Nu 449.712 million, with ownership distributed among Punjab National Bank (51%), Bhutanese promoters (19%), and the general public (30%).

Controversies

In 2023, Thimphu dzongkhag court sentenced the manager responsible for Druk PNB's ATMs, to nine years and six months for embezzling over Nu 10 million from nine ATMs in the capital.[2]

In 2022, The High Court of Bhutan upheld the Thimphu dzongkhag court's verdict, sentencing a senior executive of Druk PNB, to three years in prison for fraudulently remitting Indian currency from Bhutan. In the ruling on December 15 of last year, the officer was found guilty of aiding Indian vendor in remitting Indian rupees from Druk PNB to individuals in India since 2012.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Druk PNB Bank Ltd. – Financial Institutions Training Institute Ltd. (FITI) . 2024-04-08 . en-US.
  2. Web site: Newspaper . Bhutan's Daily . Druk PNB employee sentenced to more than nine years for money misuse . 2024-03-31 . Kuensel Online.
  3. Web site: Newspaper . Bhutan's Daily . High court convicts Druk PNB official for fraudulent remittance of INR to India . 2024-03-31 . Kuensel Online.